Great First Day

Hey! Liz here. Today was our first full day in Oloika, and it feels so good to be back – I went on this trip to Kenya last year. The progress in the town is amazing – new buildings, new sections of our building, new faces, all in addition to the old buildings and familiar faces. Being recognized here made the long plane ride more than worth it; hearing “Lize!” or “Liss!” (Liz is hard to pronounce) and a warm smile with it makes me so indescribably happy. Walking through town, returning, is almost better than walking through it the first time.

          When we woke up, the sun was rising red over the mountains. Welcome to Oloika. We went to the work site and after a brief orientation began working. The dining hall, now roofed (thanks to our work last year), is beautiful. The biggest reward is the shade it now offers – spending all morning hand-sawing long planks of wood lengthwise wasn’t so bad in the shade. The dining hall changed a lot since I’ve seen it – obviously the roof is there, some walls are plastered, the tree we planted last year is dead, there is a plaque on the wall, some benches and tables… Seeing this building again was oddly comforting.

          Our projects this year vary from building more benches and tables (hence the sawing lengthwise…) to splattering cement on the walls to plaster them. And we get to work in the shade of our roof. I’m happy.

          Being recognized in a town in rural Kenya is something not a lot of people get to feel. Coming back, I’m seeing different things and appreciating more, both personally and otherwise. Seeing progress happen in the town both with and without our help, both because of and regardless of our presence, is incredibly heartening. When I’m here, I love. No object necessarily, just as is. I am so happy to be back. I’m proud of the community and I feel so blessed to be here again.

          Hope all is well at home! See you guys soon.

Love, Elizabeth…